The Wire (8 May 1994)

Dr. Bashir fights to save Garak's life when a device implanted in his brain, designed to alleviate pain in the event of torture, begins to malfunction and is slowly killing him.

Director:

Kim Friedman

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Rick Berman (creator),

Stars:

Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Avery Brooks	...	Commander Sisko
Rene Auberjonois	...	Odo
Alexander Siddig	...	Doctor Bashir (as Siddig El Fadil)
Terry Farrell	...	Lieutenant Jadzia Dax
Cirroc Lofton	...	Jake Sisko (credit only)
Colm Meaney	...	Chief O'Brien
Armin Shimerman	...	Quark
Nana Visitor	...	Major Kira
Andrew Robinson	...	Garak
Jimmie F. Skaggs	...	Glinn Boheeka
Ann Gillespie	...	Nurse Jabara
Paul Dooley	...	Enabran Tain

Storyline

Garak and Bashir are waiting in line in the mess hall when suddenly Bashir notices Garak is not feeling well. He seems to be having some kind of a seizure but refuses treatment. Bashir remains concerned, especially after he shows some weird behavior. He sees Garak doing a business transaction with Quark, getting himself drunk in the bar and finally collapsing. An examination shows he has an implant in his head. Garak has no other option than to tell the truth. He got secret information and to avoid giving it away the implant releases the pleasure hormone during interrogations. But to avoid depression he has kept the implant on for more than a year. It is now giving out and slowly killing him. While Bashir searches for a cure, Garak tells him contradicting stories about his past.

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Plot Keywords:

24th century | drug withdrawal | drunkenness

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1994 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dr. Bashir's middle name is Subatoi.

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Goofs

During the fight scene in Garrak's quarters, the feet of a crew member are briefly visible.

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Quotes

Elim Garak: Believe me when I tell you, there is nothing you can do for me.
Dr. Julian Bashir: Oh. And Quark can, is that it?
Elim Garak: I thought *I* was supposed to be the spy.

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Soundtracks

"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title"
(uncredited)
Written by Dennis McCarthy
Performed by Dennis McCarthy

User Reviews

Garak tells the truth... especially when he lies

When Dr. Bashir and Garak are queuing for lunch Garak starts to feel unwell but refuses his friends offer of treatment. Later the doctor sees Garak talking to Quark and after Garak collapses the next day he finds that there is a device implanted in his brain. Assuming he is after technology to neutralise it Bashir mentions seeing him talking to Quark to Odo who offers to let him see Quark's supposedly secret message to a Cardassian; as soon as he enters the code for the item Garak wants alarms sound and the Cardassian says that his career is over as that item is classified by the Obsidian Order, the Cardassian Secret Intelligence Service. Over the course of the episode Garak admits that he was involved with the order then explains how he came to be expelled from the order and been exiled... he explains several times and each story is different. When the doctor goes to see the former head of the order to seek help he hears yet another story.

As with most Garak episodes this was delightful mainly due to the way Andrew Robinson portrays the mercurial Cardassian tailor. This final line about everything he says being true... especially the lies was fantastic.